Prepayment electric fan



AToaZZ whom t may concern.'

Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

l ,UNITED STATES GEORGE, ii. 4Ln COUNT, or rirrsriniin, nessaennsnrrs, essienon- 'roA enNEnAn ELEC- Tiaio eoicriiny, a con-.Ponencia er Newton-K;

QPREPAYMENT YnLne'rnie FAN. l au Application 1edAugust-24, 1922. Serial No. 583,960.

Be it. known that` I, Girone.A

siding/at Pittslield, vcounty of Berkshire,

1 State 'of `Massachusetts7 have invented certain l`new and useful Improvements in Pre-y payment Electric Fans, of which the follow- `ing isa specilication.

i The present invention relates to electric fansnnd `more especially to prepayment ifans whereby. use `thereof may .be had for.

a predetermined period of time upon the inseitioni ot' the `prescribed coin.

i "l'he objectl of'. niy` invention is to provide. .alhigh grade prepayment fan in which all i. the functioning parts, withl the exception et the fan' blades, shall be encased and pro- .tected frominjury by the iron shell or housing thereof, andshall be practically immune 10.

from picking or beating of the coin-controlled apparatus.

For aniunderstanding of the invention,

i ,reference may be made to the accompanying drawings .forming a partei this application in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section oitI a prepayment fan embodying one form et the iiiventioii;"Fig. 2 is a sectional eleva tion showing thereduction gear train between motoi'xshatt andratchet drive of the ,timingmeans5 Fig. 3 isa similar view with parts shown in Fig. 2; Figs. il, 5 and (i are cross sections et the coin barrel; Fig. 7 is ac. i planaview otithe pawl and ratchet of.' thek tuning train; Figs. 8 and 9 are cross sec-` tions ot the timing plunger taken through athe bridging contacts andthe adjacent ieduced portion; Fig. 10 is a vertical section et a modified embodiment ot-my invention;

Fig 1.1 is a cross section of -the coin barrel taken on line 11 11, Figi. 10; Fig. 12 is at similar view .online lil-12,2 and Figs.'

13 and lll are similar viewsfon' line 13--13Y showingv the progress oit a coin through barrel and Fig. 15 is a `diagram of the electric circuit. V i In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs: 1 to 9, a cast iron pedestal 1 supports at its upper end anelectric motor 2 of well known general construction with blast impelling blades 3 secured to one end of the armature shaft 4. The lead wires enter an aperture gnear the lower end of the pedestal and oner ot them is connected to a Contact of a hand switch (not shown)v carried by an nsulatngdsk 6 Secured Ato t .the-innerlower portion ofthe pedestalfby CoUN'r. a "citizen ofthe UnitedStates, re-A set screws 7, andthe other `wireis-connected to a binding post 8 on aspring contact 9 of the timing switch 10. VA `secondaspring contact .11ct the timing switch 'has ai binding post 1Q, to whichtheend otzone. motor lead wire isconnected, while theothermotor wire is connected to a second contact of the handfswitch `on the disk 6.` Slee diagramfof `electric circuit, Fig. 15. These `motor lead wires `pass' up through the neck ofcthe `pedestal and connect with the .motor termi- `be actuated automatically to cut' off the cur- `rent after the fan` has. rendered a pre-` scribed service, a train of speed reduction gearing is arranged in the motor 2 and consists of a worm 13 formedionthe armature `shaft et which meshes with a `worin wheel 1a fast on a stub shaft .15 journalled in the .front end plate 16 of themotor. Thisshaft has formed thereon a secondworm 17 which meshes with a second worm wheel` 18ifast upon a shaft 19 journallediparallel tobthe vmotor shaft 4 in a bracket QOJheld` ina recess in the end plate' 1G by anut 21.' In order to retain grease aboutltheireduction gearing, a sliellifwith a peripheralflange is arranged to tightly engage ay corresponding shoulder 26 on theend `plate .16 and held thereto by screws 27, the inner end oft the bracket 2O passing through the shell 24 and the joint being sealed-by a packing washer 2S. f i

To the inner end et theisecond shaftl) of the reduction gearing is attacheda crank 29, to which `is attached `by a screw `30 the upper end et alink `:31. vThe lower end otl `the link is pivotally connected to onefend 1 of a wristplatelQ pivoted on a set screw 38 tapped into a boss 34 on the lowerside off the motor frame.` `The opposite endfof the-wrist plate 32 has a recess in` whichis seated a pawl 35 and its springf.- Extending axially through the boss 34; is a hell-ow pivot shat't 37 held innfixed relationthereto `by the inner end of the set screwf`33, and

journalled in the hollow/shaft 3"7 is a f w-orm shaft 38 `having likedA to its upper Vendl a ratchet disk 39 Vadaptedto be*engagedI and stepped around by the-pawl 35, and in .order l 1,554,680 ra TEN r ferriere.

to prevent retrograde movement thereof it is provided with a circular series of indentatioiis with which engages a spring plunger 41 seated in the boss 34 parallel to the axis thereof.

The pedestal is provided at its upper end with a crown ange 42 having rabbetedy engagenient with a circular shoulder on the motor frame and a radial set screw 43 tapped into the wall thereof and adapted to engage a notch 44 in the periphery of the boss 34 to lock the motor lin fixed relai tion therewith. The outer end of the set screw is provided with a lock nut 45 to prevent it from working loose.

The neck of the pedestal is bored out vertically for the reception of the shank 46 of a bearing support o`r bracket 47 having a longitudinal bore for the reception of the hollow shaftl 87 and its upper end threaded for the reception of a nut 48 by which it is firmly secured from vertical movement and the latter' islocked in position by a set screw 49. To prevent rotary movement of the bracket 47, a dowel pin 50 is provided, and to lock the hollow shaft S7 therein a radial set-screw51 is tapped through the wall of the shank 46 and entered in a notch formed in the side of the hollow shaft and this set screw 5l is concealed and locked by a second set screw 52 tapped through the wall of the neck of the pedestal.

The vertical wormsliaft 38 meshes at its lower end with a worm wheel 53 formed integrally with a lead nut 54 horizontally.

journalled in the bracket 47 and retained from axial movement by a splitcollet 55 engaging a peripheral groove therein. It will be observed 'that this nut is at the end of the speed reduction gear train, by virtue of which it is given one rota-tion in several hundredfthousand rotations of the fan blades and extending over a time period of one or more hours according to gear ratios eme ployed.

The coin-controlled means is arranged in a side enlargement of the pedestal 1 in which is formed a pocket or coin receptacle 56 and a Coin slot 57. Extending horizontally across the upper end of the receptacle and below the coiny slot is` the means whereby upon the insertion of a proper coin the electric circuit may be closed for actuation of the fan for the prescribed period of time.

This means comprises a bearing sleeve 58 having coin detector slots in top and bottom walls, the upper slot being of a length and f width to exclude an oversize, coin. Journalled in the sleeve 58 is the hand operated coin barrel 59 in the form of a tubular sleeve i having only one coin slot therein and provided at its outer end with an inwardly extending stub shaft 60 anda handle or knob l 61, whiie near its inner end isl provided an 65 arcuate slot 62 of more than a half circle,

as indicated in Fig. 4, to permit it to be rotated through 180o without interference with the means for retaining it against axial movement consisting of the vertical guide tube 63. The coin barrel 59 has an internal bore Vof a diameter such that when a proper sized coin is entered therein it will, while resting on the lower inner wall, extend outwardly in the slot but just within the outer periphery of the barrel so as to clear the side of the slot in the sleeve 58 and permit the barrel and coin to be rotated without ilnterferencev therefrom, as indicated in Disposed concentrically ofthe coin barrel 59 is the coin plunger 64 capable of axial and rotary movement therein. The plunger 64 has a longitudinal crossV slot 65 at its outer end and extending to the dotted line 66, and accordinglyvin excess of what is needed for the entrance of asingle coin but for a purposeto be set forth below. The outer end of the plunger is bored out to re ceive the stub shaft 60 upon which itis ournalled. The coin plunger 64 has at its center pairs of longitudinal grooves 67 and 68 with which engages a yieldable brake member in the form of a steel ball 69 forced upwardly by a spring plunger 70 in the guide tube 63 threaded into a tapped hole in the pedestal. lhen a coin is inserted, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, it locks the barrel 59 to the plunger 64 so that the latter may be rotated against the opposition of the yieldable brake through a half turn where the coin is free to pass out through the lower slot in the bearing sleeve 58, as indicated in Fig. 6, and

enter the coin receptacle 56.

The coinplunger 64 is also provided near its center with the timing switch 10 comi from under the spring switch contact 9, the

latter drops down upon the reduced end 73 and breaks the circuitwith a snap action.

J ust beyond the switch block 71 thc plunger is provided with a thread 74 for engagement with the lead nut 54 at the end of the timing gear train, while the extreme end 7 5 of the plunger is turned cylindrieally and journalled in the bearing bracket 47, which latter also carries at its lower end a horizontal bar 76 of insulation on which the spring contacts 9 and 11 are supported.

It will be understood that each time the plunger 64 is coupled to the coin barrel 59 by a coin and rotated counter clockwise therewith to the discharge of the coin, it Will be unscrewed vfrom the lead nut 54 a correspondinghalt turn-otthe ,threads74, the fric-i ligsf` 10to 147 thelnotor shaft 4 is proi tion clutch operating to holdf the 1 plunger l at the end oit each h alturn troni being re- 1 coin barrel.

turned with the return inoveinentj ofqthe 1 the plunger troni fthfeglead nut carries one or other ofthe contactloarsl72` into siin`ul taneous engagement `nvith hboth contact springs ,Qand lliand closes thecinoto-r cirgeuit.

`This operationzniay be repeated a nuniber of tiniestinsuccession for the insertion at one time ofve or `sixcoins until `the plunger has been 4unscrewed troni the lead nut `suiiiciently to bring the end v66 of its coin Aslot Ainto `positionto interfere with the passage of additional coins. The operationof-.the fan through the timing gear .upon the lead nut 5ft acts to draw the..

plunger*` 64C back to the position indicated in j Fig. land, of course-,.thetiineot,operation will correspond. to thenuinber of hal'l'turns given .theplunger rthrough entrance ot coins. c

The coin receptacle 56 has in the outer wall thereof a displaceabletrap doorl 75 in 'i the forni of a steel disk having on its `inner wall a suitable lock` 76 with a `spear head 77 arranged tonenter ane oblong hole in an .escutcheon-ebtixedgin the rear wall of the receptacle and intel-locked.. therewith.

.nected atthe upper endet itscsteinSS toA The lowerend ot thepcdestal isenclosed by an iron plate 759 having a spur SOadapt- The operation; of 'unscrewing Init-he modifiedV ,construction shownin vided with a worin 18 atathe frea'r end .thereof which meshes with a worinwheel `114e fast on aI shaft 15` extending diagonally to the neck ot 1the inotorwhere it isprovided with a .second worin 17 meshing with. a `second worin wheelA 18 tast on a shaft 19 Vhaving athird Aand siinilar worinandiworin wheel `(shown indotted `linesin Figel) engagement with a Vertical shaft 37vprovided at itstlower-end with a slot andecotter lpin connection :with .a worinnshatt 37 :which meshes `with a lead nutV 511.

In this inodilcationthe finotor `traine 2 is provided `at its lower side with a large .boss w34 adapted to seat upon aninternal shoulder91 in the neck oit the. pedestal llwhere it is secured by aplate 92 screwed thereto .andunderriding the interna-l .shoulder91`- A radial thumb screw `43'?.operates to clamp the rnotor traine. in adjusted` position rela tive to the pedestal. i

1 iThe. pedestal 1 and coin,receptaclen vare arranged,siniilar to `the..construction irst i(lescribecl. In theplace; of a=`beariingsle-eve .ani arcuate detector.platex93.:provided with dowel pins 94 is positioned withinithe coin slot 57 in aseat cut ina cylindrical bearing support-f 95 for the -coinfloarre'l59,`

ed to enter a notch S1 in the innermwall of -n'iovenient by a set screw 96Jtapped1tl'1rough the.V pedestal opposite the ,rlCoin receptacle,

only when the latter `isopen andthus prevent access to anyrot the operativeparts by unauthorized persons.

A coin or operation counter gear .84 in the form of a Acycloineter isseeui'ed tothe inner wall o'tl-the coin` receptacle over a window aperture S5 cut therein` opposite the vtrap 75, so` that when the, latter is opengthe` counter may bey read. The counter is pro- `videdqvith the usual ratchetiwhee-LSG, with which engages a reciprocatingracle87.ccn-

the springplunger 70, so that it is-xdepressed each time the coin plunger 64 isA operated injfthentrancejof a coin as above set forth. The rack stein 8S is square in cross section and guided in a correspondingly apertured bushing 89 threaded into the lower end of the guide tube 63 and fixed by a lock nut 90 The rack 87 is in the forni oit a nut threaded upon its stein and its teeth are in the forni of spaced collars so that it inay be rotated while maintaining continuous engagement with the ratchet wheel 86 and it is fixed in .adjusted position by a lock nut 91,

opposite end is provided with a screw thread N74 -inengageinent with the lead nuti 54g.

The friction clutch `for the co'innplunger comprises `two steel i. balls IGS. disposed.. in a "transverse `aperture in the plungerandyicldingly pressed outward by ai spring 9.8 dis-` posed between them These balls Inorinally engage /shapedgrooves 671. formed `internallyf of a ring 99 klixedinfthe bearing sup- .fport @ther slots 68.. are also provided for a; purpose to'be .set forth below.

f Theswitch block 71l anducontactsQi are the same as in the construction `irst Ydescribed. 'The stationary-Ontacts 9 and.r 11 p difler onlyv in that theyware Inadersornewhat sho-rter and are supported on an insulating block 76 secured transversely to the bearing support 95.

The counter 84 is secured by screws across the inner end of the bearing support and extending into the bore thereof with its ratchet wheel 86 in position to be engaged by an accentric linger 100 sldable in the end of the coin plunger G4.

The bearing support is detachably secured in position by a set screw 101 extending through an interior wall of the pedestal and engaging a notch formed in the periphery of the support.

Referring to Figs; 5, 6, 13 and 14, it will be noted that the coin slot in the coin barrel 59 or 59 is formed by the removal of an arcuate segment of nearly 180O and a length greater than the diameter of the coin and so positioned relative to the slot 62 or 62 that the upper or leading edge 102 thereof will normally stand clear of the detecting or entrance slot for the coin, while its lower edge 103 is positioned to close the exit slot and provide a step on which the coin rests, while the coin barrel is being given its half turn, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 13. Upon completion of the half turn of the coin barrel, the parts will be positioned, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 14, so that the coin is free to pass out through the lower slot into the coin receptacle 56 or 56. y

It is to be noted that the leading edge 102 of the coin barrel slot passes the det'ectory slot and shuts it before the coin plunger has been moved to release the clutch ball 69 or 69 from engagement with the coacting groove 67 or 67', and in case the coin barrel be turned in the opposite direction before the coin plunger has been rotated far enough to kbring its opposite V groove into contact with the clutch ball, it cannot positively return the coin plunger, and in case of those parts being frictionally engaged by gum or grit the plunger will be arrested by a shallow ygroove 68 or 68 engaging with the clutch ball before the coin is brought near the entrance slot, although the edge 102 of the barrel slot may have been moved back sufficiently to clear the entrance slot.

While I have shown and described. the best embodiment of the invention known to me, I do not desire to be restricted thereto.

In my divisional patent 1,533,652, April 14, 1925, claims arel made to certain features of the invention herein set forth.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:v

1. A prepayment electric fan with a hollow pedestal having` housed therein an electric switch, coin controlled setting `means therefor, a timing gear train and electric' connections between said motor and said switch, a coin receptacle forming a part of said pedestal and provided with a liey-con trolled door, and a closure plate for the end of said pedestal having securing means accessible only when the door to the said receptacle is open.

2. A prepayment electric fan having a pedestal provided with a coin receptacle, a detachable cylindrical bearing support arranged transversely of said receptacle, a coin barrel journalled in the outer end of said support, a coin plunger journalled at its outer end in said barrel, a lead nut engaging the inner end of said plunger and journalled in said support and adapted to be actuated by the fan motor, and an electric switch carried by said plunger.

3. A prepayment electric fan having a pedestal provided with a coin receptacle, a

`detachable cylindrical bearing support arranged transversely of said receptacle, a

' coin barrel journalled in the outer end of said support, a coin plunger provided with a friction clutch and an electric switch, a lead nut driven by the fan lmotor and threaded upon said plunger and journalled in said support.

f1. A prepayment electric fan having a pedestal provided with a coin receptacle, a cylindrical bearing support detachably secured in said pedestal transversely of said receptacle, a coin barrel journalled in the outer end of said support, a lead nut driven by the motor and journalled within said support, a coin plunger carrying an electric switch and having threaded engagement with said nut, and a coin counter actuated by said plunger and connected to the inner end of said bearing support.

5. A prepayment electric apparatus provided with a coin receptacle, a tubular bearing support det'achably arranged in a cavity therein transversely of said coin receptacle, a coin barrel journalled in the outer end of said support, a coin plunger extending within said barrel and adapted to be engaged therewithby a ocoin, an electric switch mounted on said plunger and operating to control the circuit of said apparatus, and yieldable means for holding said plunger iny adjusted position. f

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of Aug. 1922.

GEORGE E. LE COUNT. 

